The access to this information will not be limited to a few but thousands. It will be accessible to people outside of the U.S. Government. It will be available to foreign governments, retail outlets as well as identity thieves.

Homeland Secretary Chertoff has said:

In an opinion column written by Secretary Chertoff after the publication of the final rule, he said, “embracing REAL ID” would mean it would be used to “cash a check, hire a baby sitter, board a plane or engage in countless other activities.”

….Secretary Chertoff also indicated that the REAL ID card would be used for a wide variety of purposes, unrelated to the law that authorized the system, including employment verification and immigration determination. He also indicated that the agency would not prevent the use of the card by private parties for non-government purposes. As part of the cost-saving effort, Homeland Security has decided not to encrypt the data that will be stored on the card.

http://epic.org/privacy/id-cards/#hist

Real ID: Connecting the Dots to an International ID
by Sam E. Rohrer, PA State Representative

Ben Franklin has famously stated, “People willing to trade freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.” REAL ID undoubtedly exemplifies a scenario in which a difficult tension exists between freedom and security. By commandeering every state’s driver’s license issuing process, REAL ID threatens the results warned by Franklin - loss of both freedom and security.

http://www.freedomadvocates.org/articles/police_state/real_id:_connecting_the_dots_to_an_international_id_20081020327/

I agree. That is why the shame “immigration reform” bill did not pass. The only thing the bill would have done is granted amnesty. As you point out, we have laws against illegal immigration. Enforce them and we would not need to have a “reform” bill.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090112/ap_on_re_us/fleeing_california_3

When the workers went to clean Chertoff’s house, they ran a criminal check on them - only thing is that they were not who they said they were, but at least the forged doc’s were not for wanted criminals. So much for Real ID when the Secret Service does not verify identity before running a criminal check. I wonder who cleans the WHite House?

Realistically, we need a National Identifier. We have one, it is called your SS number, but one cannot use that as an Identifier. It also does not prove who you are, as it is issued (for born in America) at birth.

So why do our “leaders” not only tolerate, but, by their inaction, encourage inavsion by the illegals?

California is a prime example of what will happen if amnesty is granted. That State is bankrupt and is proposing sending out IOUs instead of tax refunds. GO ARNIE!

Anon,

You forgot to add that those 20 million new “citizens” will also produce about 10 million or so new voters.

I wonder who they’re going to vote for?

I also neglected to mention that because of “chain immigration” and the fact that they will be able to bring into this country their relatives, it is estimated that the population will grow another 150 million people. Something to look forward to HUH?

Why do you like for the people of PWC to get shafted like this?

Si. With all its crime, overcrowding, garbage strewn streets, witchcraft, corrupt government, and garrish lawn ornaments. Coming soon, to a mall near you, courtesy of all your elected politicians who are allowing it to happen.

In other words, we will become another Mexico. Mexico is a nation rich in natural resources, has a large population, has favorable weather, has a high number of millionaires. Yet because of their Government system, they are a “poor” nation.

Then they will have no choice but to be waiters and garbage collectors. The first generation will tolerate it, happy to be making what seems to them good money compared to the cesspool they left. A few will succeed and move up. Most won’t. The second generation, relegated forever to jobs of low pay and less esteem, will become resentful. Inevitably they will see the relegation as indicating discrimination, not incapacity. The young, unable to compete, will gravitate toward others who can’t progress and we will have a permanent underclass. An underclass that you and I, as middle class taxpayers, will have to support with schools, hospitals, affordable housing, etc. A class that you and I, as middle class urbanites and suburbanites, will forever be the victims of due to the criminality inherent in such an underclass. But it’s also an underclass from which the privileged few will draw their gardeners, chauffeurs, maids, waiters, waitresses, and concubines. A permanent slave class for the wealthy subsidized by you, the average American.

You forgot to add that those 20 million new “citizens” will also produce about 10 million or so new voters.

I wonder who they’re going to vote for?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/10/AR2009011002149.html

You reap what you sew.

We need ID’s for my friends the Salvadorans!

Don’t forget the Nicaraguans, Bolivians and Peruvians. Fair is Fair!:)